Crude Oil

The U.S. economy depends heavily on oil, particularly in the transportation sector. World oil production has been running at near capacity to meet demand, pushing prices upward. Concerns about meeting increasing demand with finite resources have renewed interest in an old question: How long can the oil supply expand before reaching a maximum level of production -- a peak -- from which it can only decline? The author: (1) examined when oil production could peak; (2) assessed the potential for transportation technologies to mitigate the consequences of a peak in oil production; & (3) examined fed. agency efforts that could reduce uncertainty about the timing of a peak or mitigate the consequences. Includes recommendations. Charts & tables.